We propose that, for materials having positive dielectric anisotropy, the biaxiality can be clearly verified or excluded by measuring the transmitted light intensity as a function of electric field. If the material is biaxial and is observed in homeotropically aligned cells, the schlieren texture should not disappear (transmitted intensity is not zero) even at very high fields, since the field does not affect the distribution of the second director normal to the main director. On the other hand, if the material is uniaxial the transmitted intensity should decrease with increasing field and a perfect homeotropic texture can be achieved at high fields. We have studied a bent-core compound in which a uniaxial-biaxial nematic $\left(N_u\text{−}{N}_b\right)$ transition has been reported. This material has a positive dielectric anisotropy at low frequencies, so we could apply the technique described above. Our studies indicate that the material is uniaxial in the entire nematic range.

• Received 5 November 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.79.030701